Israel on Thursday informed the Palestinian Authority (PA) of a series of punitive measures against it, following the PA’s request to join 15 international conventions.

According to Kol Yisrael radio, these measures include a suspension of high-level contacts between ministers and CEOs, and any contacts with the PA will now be led by the Coordinator of Government Activities in Judea and Samaria, Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai.

It was also decided to freeze the implementation of 3G cellular technology in PA-assigned areas and stop the transfer into Gaza of communications equipment belonging to the PA cellular phone company Watania. Another punitive measure is a freeze on promotion master plans for new communities in Area C.

Israel is looking into further sanctions on the PA, according to Kol Yisrael.

On Wednesday night, the UN's special envoy on Mideast peace had confirmed he received requests from PA officials to join international conventions and treaties, including the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, the convention on the rights of the child, the convention against torture, and the one against corruption.

The PA’s ambassador to the UN later threatened that the PA could join up to 550 international treaties and conventions, including the International Criminal Court.

On Thursday, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who has been the Israeli negotiator in the peace talks with PA, announced that the fourth and final batch of terrorist releases has been officially cancelled due to the PA’s unilateral move.

"New conditions have been created, and Israel cannot free the prisoners of the fourth batch," announced Livni.